In order to interrupt challenging behavior when working with people (e.g. youth with emotional disturbances, people with mental illness, individuals with developmental disabilities), it is crucial to assess the personal and environmental triggers right before the behavior, what is effective in replacing the behavior, and what are the outcomes of this action. Positive Behavior Support (PBS) gives social workers a model to do just that. It helps professionals understand the internal and external antecedents that precede behavior, the specified behavior itself (and its purpose) and the outcomes that support or extinguish the challenging behavior. Rooted in Functional Analysis (assessing the relationship between the environment and the behavior), PBS is an effective model to help social workers to help people modify behaviors that are not working for them.

In addition, PBS helps professionals to look at behavior that is working for people. It teaches us how to support it, enhance it and to help clients become effective in self-direction and emotion management. This evidenced-based model shows that the more people are happy, enjoying themselves, and are engaged in functional activities that they like, the less they are apt to engage in negative outcomes to get their needs met. Though simple in its approach, PBS helps professionals reduce problem behaviors to nil or near zero.

By attending this 3-hour workshop, attendees will grasp the core principles of Positive Behavior Support. Attendees will learn the ABC model, functional analysis, and the five response classes for behavior, the five components of positive behavior support, the PBS assessment process and how to help people to focus on positive approaches in their lives. Heavy emphasis in the workshop will be placed on case analysis and in vivo discussion of PBS applications to attendee clientele. PBS assessment tools will be distributed at the workshop.

Benjamin R. Sher, MA, LMSW has been a NYS Office of People with Development Disabilities (OPWDD) Strategies for Crisis Intervention – Revised Edition (SCIP-R) Certified Instructor for the past 15 years. This training curriculum is based on the Positive Behavior Support/Positive Approaches model.

3 CE Contact Hours

REFUND REQUESTS:

All refund requests must be submitted by email to workshops@naswnyc.org . Valid requests must be received no later than five days prior to course date.

Refunds are available if requested in writing five business days before the workshop, minus a $20 administrative fee.